Every March the best college wrestlers in the country, get together for the NCAA Wrestling Championships! This tournament is the culmination of a lifetime of hard work for these young men, and only one (in each weight class) can be crowned champion.
This year’s tournament takes place March 21-23th, in Kansas City, Missouri, at the T-Mobile Center.
In this article we will discuss last year’s 184 lb champion and who the top contenders are for this season.
2023 Champion: Mason Parris of Michigan went 33-0 last season claiming the NCAA title as well as the prestigious Hogge trophy. He has since graduated, opening the door for a new contender.
This Year’s Contenders:
Greg Kerkvliet of Penn State was a Was a four-time Minnesota state champion in high school, as well as a cadet World Champion in 2017. At Penn State he is a 3X NCAA All-American. He is currently 18-0 and just captured the Big 10 title in dominating fashion.
Wyatt Hendrickson of Air Force Wyatt was a 2X Kansas State Champion in high school and is a 2X All-american. He is also a 2X Big 12 champion and has led the nation in pins the last 2 seasons. He is 22-1 on the year and ranked 2nd in the class.
Yonger Bastida of iowa State is 24-0 on the year and has looked very impressive with wins over Cohlton Schultz and Wyatt Hendrickson. Yonger has been a pleasant addition to the heavyweight ranks this season and he has a unique balance of speed and strength that makes him a serious threat to everyone he faces.
Dark Horse Contenders:
Cohlton Schultz of Arizona State has had an off year and has dealt with a mixture of injury and illness. He is currently 9-1 and ranked 4th in the country. Cohlton is a 3X all-american and 4X US Open Champion, he is also a former NCAA finalist. While he has flown under the radar this season, he is more than capable of winning an NCAA title.